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Black Panther seemed unfazed by Zhang Lihua's anger, adding fuel to the fire by saying, "You're not as good as your sister."

Without warning, Zhang Lihua collapsed to the ground, clutching the mulberry beads tightly in his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Get out if you don't want to die!"

Feng Qi thought for a moment and planned to go over and comfort Zhang Lihua, but Zhang waved his hand and roared, "You get out too!"

Faced with Zhang Lihua's ruthless attitude, Feng Qi really didn't know what to say. He hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Zhang Lihua and the composed Black Panther. After a moment's consideration, he slunk out of the cave.

No sooner had the first one left than the black panther followed, but it only stayed at the cave entrance and did not go any further.

The man and the leopard faced each other in silence.

A long time passed, so long that Feng Qi, standing outside the cave, could even hear Yang Bo, still on the giant rock, snoring. He smiled silently, easing the tense atmosphere. This Yang Bo, really, could actually fall asleep under such circumstances.

Black Panther noticed Feng Qi's smile and glanced at him. Feng Qi touched his nose, somewhat embarrassed, as if his relaxed demeanor was inappropriate. Since meeting Black Panther, his nerves had relaxed, as if he had encountered an old friend, someone he trusted deeply. It was a strange feeling.

In the sunlight, he carefully examined the black panther once more.

His body was completely hairless, but covered in wounds, indicating serious injuries. Yet, those dark green eyes still gave him a sense of familiarity.

"Have we met before?" he asked hesitantly.

Black Panther looked over coldly.

"How did you get involved too?" It seemed like a question, but it was actually just a light sigh, and Feng Qi didn't need to answer it.

Upon hearing this, Feng Qi felt there was hope. He recognized the person, but who was it?

Just as I was about to ask more questions, Zhang Lihua came out.

Feng Qi noticed that Zhang Lihua's expression had returned to normal. He stepped forward, and Zhang Lihua glanced at him with a hint of guilt, her lips twitching slightly: "I apologize for my attitude just now." Feng Qi understood; no one is perfect, and everyone has their emotions.

Zhang Lihua then turned her gaze to the black leopard and said calmly, "I know about your situation."

Black Panther narrowed his eyes: "And then, can you tell me your stance? Are you on the same page as your sister, or have you decided to ignore it?"

"You water witches can handle your own affairs. Don't think that just because I kept my promise to Ya Hua and didn't retaliate against you, I'm on your side. In the end, whether you were the ones who did it or not, Ya Hua died because of you. I only have hatred for you, nothing else."

"I am sorry about your sister's situation. However—I remember you were also a member of the jury."

"Don't tell me I'm just a junior member who just joined the group. Even if I had that right, I wouldn't want to meddle in your business."

"Don't you want to avenge your sister?"

Zhang Lihua lowered her eyes and said softly, "I still remember my identity... Don't think that I am like you, without rules or discipline. I am a wood-type sorcerer, and I have my own pride. How could I be like you, getting myself mired in the quagmire for narrow-minded revenge?"

The black panther remained silent for a long while, then spoke with a hint of mockery: "How could I forget the rules you value most... I suppose I've been spending too much time with reckless people and have forgotten your true nature. Never mind..." It paused here, then asked, "Can I ask you for a promise?"

Zhang Lihua looked a little impatient: "I've said it before, I won't concern myself with your grudges! As long as I don't mention you to others, you can rest assured."

"Heh, I hope you'll keep your promise." With that, the black panther retreated into the cave and disappeared into the darkness.

Feng Qi let out a soft "Ah," wanting to ask who Black Panther was, but seeing Zhang Lihua's sad expression, he didn't say anything more.

Zhang Lihua looked up, forced a smile, patted Feng Qi on the shoulder, and said, "Let's go."

Feng Qi froze when Zhang Lihua patted his shoulder. In that instant, the surrounding scenery vanished, replaced by unfamiliar landscapes, unfamiliar people, and unfamiliar objects. The feeling was strangely familiar, like the countless dreams he'd had since arriving in Zhengning, like touching a tree trunk covered in spiritual energy. He knew he had sensed it again.

This time, it is the dream of Zhang Yahua, the most outstanding female witch of the wood element.

Chapter Eight: Birch Tree

(eight)

She hid behind the artificial hill, holding her breath, a smug smile on her lips.

It was a traditional Chinese courtyard, with soaring eaves, thick stone walls, intricate carvings, a cool, secluded corridor, and an exquisite garden. The artificial hill she was hiding in was in the southwest corner of the garden, its moss-covered surface occasionally reflecting a bright gleam in the sunlight. She had been lying in wait there since morning, waiting until she had gone back to sleep before finally spotting him.

One step, two steps, three steps… She strained her ears, carefully discerning the footsteps of the approaching person. If it was him, she would definitely recognize them. Very steady footsteps, each step firm and grounded, yet not overly forceful. The right foot carried slightly more weight than the left, a subtle difference.

The smile on her face deepened considerably.

It's him.

Huh? There's another person?

Despite her doubts, she still pounced on the person without hesitation as they passed by the artificial hill.

The embrace I fell into was soft and warm, carrying the fresh scent of earth, just like always.

She opened her eyes, raised her bright smile, and giggled at the person she had pinned down for the thousand and first time: "Nianyu! Nianyu! How can you be so silly, always getting pinned down by me?"

The man she called Nianyu was in his early thirties, with a neatly shaved head and unusually Westernized features, especially his pair of crimson eyes that gave him an eerie look.

Nianyu picked up her sunglasses, which had been knocked off, and put them back on. She said coldly, "Zhang Yahua, I've warned you many times—don't pounce on me!"

She giggled and said, "It's so fun to pounce on you! The moment your eternally icy face melts, oh! I'm so fascinated by those subtle changes in your expression~"

"Are you that idle? The Wood Element Elder just lets you run wild?"

She blinked her big eyes and said innocently, "I'm really free~ I'm just a kid, what can a kid do?"

"Little child..." Nianyu suppressed his anger. If someone could hide their aura so well that even he, as the judge, couldn't detect it, he wondered if this "little child" was as innocent as she claimed.

Seeing the girl's smug face, Nianyu knew she had fallen for her trap again.

Breathe, breathe again. Don't argue with a child. He pursed his lips, snorted, and turned to the other person, saying, "Chaoyou, let's go."

Ya Hua had already noticed the man standing behind Nian Yu, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to call him a boy.

He looked very young, maybe a year or two older than me. Soft, fine hair gently brushed against his shoulders in the wind, its pale yellow color shimmering faintly in the sunlight. His skin was even whiter, like the finest porcelain, and a few freckles on his nose added a touch of cuteness and playfulness. He wore an earth-toned cotton-linen short-sleeved shirt and trousers; the rustic clothes looked perfectly natural on him. Standing next to Nianyu, who wore sunglasses, a shaved head, and the same clothes, it was a stark contrast between a fresh-faced young man and an eccentric middle-aged man.

It turns out his name is Chaoyou.

Ya Hua squinted, fawningly surrounding Chao You and asking, "Chao You? Which Chao? Which You? You're so beautiful. Where did you get your hair dyed? It looks so natural. Ah~ I forgot, you're a sorcerer, right? If you're a sorcerer, then it couldn't be dyed. Haha, which faction are you from? I've never seen you before. Let me guess, earth? Fire? It can't be earth, earth people have bad genes, their offspring are all deformed. Water? It can't be water! What faction are you from?!"

Unable to stand Ya Hua's incessant chatter, Nian Yu shoved her forehead hard: "Stay away from us!"

Chao You smiled good-naturedly, seemingly quite interested in the girl: "You're the overly lively wood-type sorcerer Nian Yu mentioned—Zhang Yahua?"

Overly lively? Ya Hua rolled her eyes at Nian Yu: "He's just jealous of my youth and cuteness, don't pay him any mind! That's just his dark psychology from early menopause. Come on, Chao You, let's get to know each other formally. I'm Zhang Ya Hua, the beautiful wood-type witch!"

"I am Chao You, well, I would say I am a water-based sorcerer."

"I guess so?" She's very good at grasping the key points.

Chao You smiled slightly awkwardly, and Nian Yu explained from the side, "Chao You's aptitude is limited, and he didn't pass the preliminary test."

Ya Hua rolled her eyes at Nian Yu again: "You... I've never seen anyone as tactless as you. I doubt you're really 30 years old? Or are you lying about your age?"

"I won't argue with a disrespectful girl."

Ya Hua made a face and cheekily snuggled closer to Nian Yu: "I just love arguing with you, so what?"

"I wonder how Zhang Lihua usually disciplines them."

"My brother follows a laissez-faire approach. Besides, don't envy him, and don't be jealous that he has a sister like me. You do have your strengths, for example, when it comes to being fun, my brother is far superior to you. Hey, it's that expression—the helplessness behind those sunglasses combined with the twitching of your facial muscles—I can never get enough of it!"

These words made Chao You smile. He said gently, "Ya Hua, please spare Nian Yu. Look, he's about to lose it." His voice was so gentle, like a light drizzle, making people feel comfortable.

Ya Hua was taken aback. She looked at Nian Yu and then at Chao You, and laughed, "Silly Nian Yu, why don't you go on a rampage and show me!" As she said this, she casually straightened her tattered skirt, which was already wrinkled from lying on the ground, patted her bottom, and swaggered up the wall.

Nianyu's resentful voice came from behind, unwilling to give up.

"You brat! Use the front door!"

"You climbed over the wall so fast~" Ya Hua, who had already climbed to the top of the wall, waved his hand very casually and left without taking a trace.

Chao You seemed to smile again, still very gently.

Peeping is a bad habit.

But what else could she do if she didn't peep? Ya Hua squatted under the banyan tree, yawning with a hint of boredom. Since school let out for summer vacation, her daily life consisted of peeping, catching fish, and sleeping—it was indeed very boring.

In the room opposite, the androgynous young man, Chao You, was leisurely practicing calligraphy. A gentle breeze blew, causing his clothes to flutter, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance.

Ya Hua couldn't understand why, as a young man himself, he could maintain the same posture for an entire day. On the days when Nian Yu was away on official business, he wrote calligraphy every day. Ya Hua didn't know what he wrote, but seeing the Xuan paper filled with writing—enough to bind into a book—filled her with admiration.

Just then, Nianyu returned.

Ya Hua concealed her aura. Nian Yu was much stronger than Chao You, so she at least had to hide herself properly.

Okay, get ready, pounce!

Before she could pounce, she heard Chao You's surprised voice, which even trembled slightly.

"You...you found it?"

Nianyu paused for a moment before replying, "She is still unconscious. The black panther that was with her escaped."

Ya Hua's eyes widened, realizing that Nian Yu must be referring to the mission he'd been busy with lately. But Nian Yu always strictly adhered to confidentiality rules and wouldn't discuss his missions with others. This time, facing Chao You, he had actually broken the rules.

Who are they talking about?

"I...I want...I want to see her..." Judging from his voice, Chao You had completely lost his former elegance and composure. Even Ya Hua, who hadn't seen his expression, could hear his nervousness.

“She could have escaped, but… she failed because of that black panther.” Nianyu seemed more interested in the black panther. He comforted Chaoyou and said, “I didn’t send her to the elder. Go and see her. After all… you two have an unbreakable blood relationship.”

"Thank you... Nianyu... I'm so sorry, she did those things... Could you..."

Nianyu's voice turned cold: "Chaoyou, although you failed to obtain the qualification of a wizard, you should know what kind of punishment a wizard will receive for making a mistake."

Chao You sighed softly, "Never mind, I'll go check on her."

With that, the two walked outside.

Ya Hua watched the two figures walk away, suddenly becoming interested in the mysterious person they had mentioned. Related to Chao You by blood, that meant he was a water-elemental sorcerer. Had any remarkable figures recently emerged among water-elemental sorcerers? She pursed her lips, smiled, and followed. How could she miss out on something so interesting!

Nianyu led Chaoyou to an open area. There wasn't a single tree on the ground, only scattered mounds of earth and a few bulldozers; it was clearly a construction site that hadn't started yet. Looking out over the open space, there was no one in sight.

Seeing Chao You looking at him with a puzzled expression, Nian Yu pushed up his sunglasses and revealed a barely perceptible smile. Then, he knelt down and placed his hands flat on the ground.

At first, there was a slight tremor, then the tremor grew stronger and stronger, as if something was about to break out of the ground.

In just over ten seconds, a cage made of mud rose from the ground, and lying flat inside was a short-haired girl.

Chao You's body trembled, and he stared intently at the girl in the cage.

Ya Hua, who was following behind the two, was in a terrible predicament. This barren open space made it impossible for her to use trees to conceal her presence, so she had to be on high alert and couldn't get too close to the two.

From a distance, she couldn't see the girl's face clearly, only her pretty short hair.

Can she hear me?

Nianyu's answer was no, but influenced by Chaoyou's sadness, his tone became much gentler, so gentle that Yahua, who had known him since childhood, doubted whether the bald man in sunglasses was Nianyu.

"She's been under my spell, and it'll probably take three days for her to wake up. But don't worry, the spell I cast on her won't affect her body."

"Is it appropriate to keep her underground? Won't she suffocate?"